SLMM issuing clarifications under pressure, disturbing- LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 May 2006, 10:56 GMT]Liberation Tigers in a letter to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) chief General Henricsson sent Wednesday regarding the clarifications on a previous statement that confirmed complicity of Government in extra-judicial killings in NorthEast, said: "We assume that the SLMM still stands by the above conclusions...and that the clarification only refers to the generalization of SLMM's conclusions."

With respect to the clarification issued by the SLMM on May 02, LTTE still assumes that SLMM stands by the conclusions reached by them as per earlier statement: "We also fear that Government Security forces have, in the North and the East, been involved in extrajudicial killings of civilians. This conviction is based on our observation and inquiries on the ground," and that the clarification only refers to the generalization of SLMM's conclusions.

However, we would like to bring it to your attention that the LTTE is disturbed by SLMM's willingness to issue statements after pressure applied from the GoSL, giving way to different interpretations by media, affecting the confidence of Tamils on the SLMM.

We want to bring to your notice that, as we write this letter, many more civilians are being killed in the Northeast. This includes the attack on the press office of the well respected, leading, Jaffna Tamil daily, Uthayan, and the killing of two senior staff.

LTTE is aware that your conviction stated on 29 April, was arrived at after visiting several (more than hundred) crime scenes of extrajudicial killings where Sri Lankan security forces were involved. You were able to talk to victims' families and eyewitnesses.

We, therefore, call upon you to continue to be truthful in your judgments and statements, and refrain from allowing room for different interpretations of the clarifications. It will save lives.